Work

Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation neuromodulates pre- and postsynaptic inhibition in the control of spinal spasticity

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Aside from enabling voluntary control over paralyzed muscles, a key effect of spinal cord stimulation is the alleviation of spasticity. Dysfunction of spinal inhibitory circuits is considered a major cause of spasticity. These circuits are contacted by Ia muscle spindle afferents, which are also the primary targets of transcutaneous lumbar spinal cord stimulation (TSCS). We hypothesize that TSCS controls spasticity by transiently strengthening spinal inhibitory circuit function through their Ia-mediated activation. We show that 30 min of antispasticity TSCS improves activity in post- and presynaptic inhibitory circuits beyond the intervention in ten individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury to normative levels established in 20 neurologically intact individuals. These changes in circuit function correlate with improvements in muscle hypertonia, spasms, and clonus. Our study opens the black box of the carryover effects of antispasticity TSCS and underpins a causal role of deficient post- and presynaptic inhibitory circuits in spinal spasticity.

Source: Cell Reports Medicine

DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101805

Authors: Karen Minassian, Brigitta Freundl, Peter Lackner, Ursula S. Hofstoetter

Institutions: Medical University of Vienna, Wiener Krankenanstaltenverbund

Language: English

Topic: Spinal Cord Injury Research

Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $5,460